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		The Barefoot College plans to extend the following innovations: Widespread use of solar energy. The Barefoot College is entirely solar powered. The power for its 20 computers, water testing laboratory, rural telephone exchange, e-mail and night schools comes from the sun. In addition, the solar panels have been installed and maintained by semi literate barefoot engineers. Thus showing the wise and respectful use of the sun as a source of power by supposedly backward people. Rainwater harvesting as opposed to the installation of only hand pumps and piped water supply systems as the only safe drinking water solutions. In 2000-2001 over 17 million litres of rainwater were collected in almost 100 remote schools located in saline water areas. An unexpected spin off was the increased attendance of girls in these schools – just for sweet drinking water! The extensive use of waste materials to fabricate geodesic domes and learning materials. Used tyres have been converted into swings, waste food into bio gas, waste syringes into drip systems for forestry, etc. The Barefoot College is the first grassroots organization that has openly and seriously acted on issues of waste, corruption, accountability and transparency. It held a ‘Public Hearing’ (the first ever in India) when all the accounts showing where the money came from and how it was spent were explained to the community of rural beneficiaries, the press and the elected representatives. For more in-depth information about the Barefoot College, please click here.